Coming Up
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May 20 - CYNTHIA BOAZ - "The Arab Spring: Myths, Realities, and Prospects for Nonviolent Change."
The events of the last year have stimulated renewed interest in nonviolent strategy as a source of political and social change. In this talk, Dr. Boaz will provide an introduction to the dynamics of nonviolent struggle, discuss how these strategies have been implemented in the Arab World, and will consider the longer-term prospects for democratic change in the region. She will address several common misconceptions including those related to the efficacy of nonviolent action, the relationship between power and violence, and the role of culture in the Arab uprisings. She will conclude by considering how citizens of democratic societies can support people in other parts of the world who are trying to gain rights, freedom or democracy through nonviolent means.
Dr. Cynthia Boaz is assistant professor of political science at Sonoma State University, where she specializes in political development, quality of democracy, political communication and media, civil resistance, and nonviolent struggles. She has written extensively on the nonviolent democracy movements in Iran and Burma. She is also an analyst and consultant on nonviolent action, is an academic advisor for the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, the Vice President of the Metta Center for Nonviolence, and on the Executive Board of the Media Freedom Foundation. She is also contributing writer with Truthout and the Huffington Post. She is currently writing a book on media framing of civil resistance and nonviolent struggles for University of Queensland Press.
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There will be no Symposium on Sunday, May 27. Instead there will be a special program onTUESDAY, MAY 29, 7:00 PM
SAM KEEN, Philosopher, Author, and Lecturer
"A Spirited Life: 10 Rules of Thumb"
SAM KEEN was educated at Harvard and Princeton and was a professor of philosophy and religion at various institutions for 20 years before becoming a contributing editor of Psychology Today, a freelance thinker, lecturer, seminar leader and consultant. He is the author of a bakers dozen books, the most recent, "In the Absence of God: Dwelling in the Sacred" – Random House -2010, is a best seller. He is also a co-producer of an award winning PBS documentary, "Faces of the Enemy". His work was also the subject of a 60 minute PBS special with Bill Moyers–"Your Mythic Journey with Sam Keen".
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June 3 - DANIEL LANAHAN, JD
"Mexico - Is it important to the United States?"
Mr. Lanahan will argue that Mexico does not seem to be important to our government, but there are many reasons why it should be a lot more important to us then many countries where we spend our time and treasure but are in some cases Oceans away. What opportunities are we missing? What problems are we causing? Why are we ambivalent? Does what we are doing make sense? Do we have a realistic view of Mexico and the Mexican people? Does the U.S. news about Mexican drug cartels say "end of story" to us?
Daniel J. Lanahan JD is a founder of the Sonoma County law firm of Lanahan & Reilley LLP now known as Lanahan Steever and Anderson LLP. He has practiced law for 40 years during which time he served as a board member for many non profit and for profit companies. Those non profits he also chaired include Memorial Hospital, The North Bay Leadership Counsel and PBS Radio and TV station KRCB. He has had numerous relationships with Sonoma State University, serving on many boards and teaching in their life long learning program. He has taught at Oakmont, the town of Sonoma, Puerto Vallarta Mexico and numerous times at Sonoma State University. In 2007 the Trustees of the California State University bestowed upon him a honorary Doctor of Laws Degree in recognition of his work at Sonoma State. Between 2007 and 2011 Mr. Lanahan Co-Chaired the fund raising campaign for the Green Music Center. He first crossed the border into Mexico in 1957 and since that time has spent years living in Mexico. Recently he has resided there seven months a year.
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June 10 - JIM PEDGRIFT - Former Teacher, School Board Member, and Mayor of Santa Rosa
"Public Education in an Era of Culture Wars"
The Culture War undermines the very foundation necessary for public education to be successful. We will look at the recent history of public education to determine how we got to our present sorry state of affairs. I will argue that both liberals and conservatives have conspired to deliver us to where we are today, and the one thing necessary to restore our schools is the one thing the Culture War cannot deliver – compromise and cooperation.
Jim Pedgrift began teaching mathematics in 1971 at Rancho Cotate High School. He retired from full time teaching in 2005 from the Sonoma State University mathematics department. Along the way he taught several years at Santa Rosa Community College and served four years on the Santa Rosa Board of Education. In his spare time Jim spent eight years on the Santa Rosa City Council, including two terms as mayor.
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That's all the Sunday Symposia until September. Have a Great Summer!!
Contact the Symposium at oaksunsym@gmail.com